Thinking Of Getting A Dog? Find Useful Information Here

Dogs are among the very best pets around. They can give you love and happiness. However, to benefit both you and your dog, it would be to your advantage to know everything you can about them. This article gives you a glimpse of what owning a dog is all about.

Be careful with your dog around Christmas season, many dangers are lurking just under the festive ambiance. For instance, electrical chords are typically strewn about during the holidays, and dogs often chew them, creating an electrical hazard. Dogs may be tempted to eat the decorations on the tree. They may also be tempted by the tree water, which can be toxic.

Start training your dog as soon as you bring them home. Create a vocabulary list that all your family members will use to command the dog and stick to it. Dogs can become confused if the same words are not used to give them directions. The dog will see "get over here" and "come" as two different commands.

If you notice your dog gets dry skin in the winter, you probably need to brush him or her more often. Doing so will get rid of old fur and help get their oil glands working properly. Try brushing once in the morning and once in the evening to see if it makes a difference for your pet.

When choosing a dog for your home, don't forget to estimate the size it will be as a full grown adult. This is especially true if you have small children at home. Although a small puppy will be cute, it may grow into a large, one hundred pound dog. Do some research on the average adult size of the breeds you are considering.

A daily brush will do much more than prevent your dog from constant shedding. Daily brushing helps the coat to stay beautiful and shiny. This is caused by the motions since brushing distributes oils that keep skin, soft, shiny and healthy.

If your vet gives you medication to take home and administer to your dog, be sure and ask for ideas on getting him to swallow it. Dogs differ in their tolerance of pills and badly-flavored liquids, so have a few tricks up your sleeve in case he resists. Getting a dog to take medicine is important, but often challenging.

If your dog has long hair, make sure to take the time to trim the fur around his feet. If you allow your dog's hair to grow too long, they can get things stuck in their fur. This could lead to injuries between the pads of the feet and around the nails.

Be careful around Christmas time with a dog in your home; it's the busiest time of year at 24/7 animal clinics! Things like hanging and tree lights pose a danger to your dog, as they could become tangled or gnaw their way down to raw wires. The loveliest of Christmas plants are also hazardous to a dog's health, so take extra care during holidays.

Positive reinforcement is the best way to train your dog. You should congratulate your dog when it displays a good behavior, for instance by giving it a treat or petting it. Talk to your dog in a soft voice and make sure you praise it every time the good behavior is displayed.

Adopt

Bring your shelter dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible after you adopt him. You need to find out if they picked anything up at the shelter. You need to be sure that you get your animal all of the shots it needs prior to bringing it home.

Becoming a foster for a dog will help you decide if dog ownership is right for you. Shelters are full of abused and homeless dogs and they are hard pressed to give them all proper care. Become a foster parent to test the waters.

House-training your dog will be much easier if you adopt a routine. You should go for walks regularly throughout the day and come home during your lunch break if necessary. If your dog has to be home alone for long hours, do not leave a bowl full of water unless it is very hot.

Before you adopt a dog, determine the space your dog will have access to. Do not hesitate to keep your dog out of certain rooms if you have valuables in them or some brand new carpeting. Prepare the space your dog will be occupying by removing wires your dog might be tempted to chew.

In conclusion, unconditional love is provided by a dog to its owner that isn't found anywhere else in life. In order to be a responsible and trustworthy master to your dog, you should make the effort to educate yourself in the field. These tips should help you become an expert on dogs. Apply the advice and get all you can from owning a dog.